Goodness me. If you had to sum up the latest episode of The Originals in one word, it's a fair bet that you'd go for "epic". Biblical-style weather disasters, a race against time and a humdinger of a cliffhanger? Yep, "epic" seems about right.

One of the best things about 'Après Moi, Le Déluge' was that it had such focus. There were no side plots this week - about as close as you got to one was Elijah and Hayley's new discord, but even that was really part of the main event. Everyone was involved in one storyline, and what a storyline it was.

If there's one niggle that I have, it's that the mythology in The Originals (and, for that matter, The Vampire Diaries) tends to be overly complicated and convoluted. The show lost me only slightly when we reached the portion where Elijah suggested consecrating the remains of their own mother, simply because there seemed to be so many things that had to be ironed out in a section of explanatory monologue.

That aside, though - and if you let the show wash over you, not paying too much attention to the tiny details of why it all works - the episode was a thrill: Davina becomes very ill (if I was vomiting soil I might think a hospital trip was necessary, after all) and Sophie realises that they need to complete the harvest, and soon. Otherwise, New Orleans will be facing its very own apocalypse.

I liked that the effects of Davina's unravelling were all natural - in line with the focus on nature that witches have - because it made things almost weirdly more realistic. Everyone understands weather - earthquakes and wind and rain and fire. It's elemental, and gave the episode that Biblical feel. And hey, there's nothing more epic than a storm. Seeing Klaus and Marcel drenched in the rain added that pathetic fallacy that is sometimes all you want.

The race against time meant that the episode never let up, either - time flew past as everyone tried to figure out how to complete the harvest, especially when a) consecrating Celeste's remains didn't work, for some reason (more on that later), and b) Marcel stole Davina away to hide her and keep her 'safe'. I adored everything about this; it's so nice to see Marcel being something other than a pure villain. In fact, he's something of a father figure here. It's obvious he cares, and it was beyond endearing when he apologised for using her to control the witches - his feelings for her are more than that.

That's the thing about this episode - in amongst all the tension and hurrying and all that weather, there was still time for some really moving character moments. Not only did we have Davina and Marcel, but there was also, say, Hayley and Elijah. I've been enjoying their relationship, but Hayley's admission that she snooped through Elijah's journals to find Celeste's resting place is a genuine reason for a rift between them. Even Klaus advising Hayley to do the opposite of what he would do and apologise is touching, and her attempt to do so when all is said and done is heartbreaking - because Elijah cannot accept it, at least not yet. It's actually painful when he grabs her, they look like they will kiss, and then he lets her go. Mind you, just Hayley walking away cemented my girl crush.

But even these emotional moments had the hint of the epic about them. When Marcel and Davina eventually agree that there's nothing for it, they go to the harvest ritual, but the sight of Marcel carrying his young charge through a graveyard with fire behind them - well, it should be ridiculous, but it's just awesome. When her throat is slit in the pouring rain, it's genuinely gripping - and, of course, the fact that the four young sacrificed girls fail to wake up again, despite Sophie's pleas, is just horrifying.

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Who couldn't feel for Marcel when he returned to the house to throw furniture around in rage and grief? That it's Klaus who offers him comfort is a surprise, but a good one - when he grips his shoulders and then pulls him in for a proper man hug, it's just a fantastic moment. And it makes sense, too; do we really want to go back to Klaus and Marcel being in complete opposition? Klaus explaining that he grieved for Marcel previously and knows what he's going through is smart and keeps him on side.

Still, just when I thought things were winding down, The Originals went and threw another curveball at me. Rebekah - just given credit for being smart by Klaus - wonders where the power from the harvest ritual went, if the girls were not resurrected. And we cross to Sabine, who's been casting spells with voodoo dolls all episode - but we just accepted and ignored it.

Well, we shouldn't have. Suddenly, there are people walking through the streets of New Orleans in old clothes - flapper costumes and fantastic hats. The three of them gather together in confusion - who called them forth? Oh, it's only Sabine... except, she doesn't want to be called Sabine anymore. She wants to be known by her real name. Celeste. And yep, that's about the point that everyone watching just loses it. What an insane, brilliant, enjoyable, ridiculous, clever twist. I love it.

Was that episode of The Originals perfect? No, probably not. But one thing it absolutely was? Entertaining. I was compelled by the whole thing, as the story unravelled quickly and kept me gripped - and still found time to move me. I'm already counting down the days until the next episode - what about you?

Bites & Pieces

- I'll be honest, I didn't really catch all the Mikaelson mum stuff - do they now have access to her power? Because that would be amazing. Or do they have to go through Sophie? (I think that's what it is.)

- I think there's hope for Hayley and Elijah, you guys. Evidence #1: How he talked about when you love someone they have a unique power to hurt you. Evidence #2: Him saying he's only loved two people (Celeste and...?)

- "Any more inopportune deaths you would like to wave in my face?" "Give me a month - I'll get you a list."

- "Young or old, dead or alive - witches are a pain in the arse."

- "I thought they were just bones, Elijah." I don't quite know why that line made me shiver, but it did.

- I wonder if people will start to wonder why they couldn't consecrate Celeste's remains and who has her power, or if they'll forget about the whole thing (you know, until Celeste shows up).

- "Said the desperate witch, conveniently."

- Rebekah is still working with Thierry. But, you know, priorities. Stopping everyone from getting killed was just more important this week.

- Hayley crying over her canned ham. Bless. (Also, Klaus keeping his werewolf clan safe in the church - he's full of surprises, isn't he?)